A Service with a Difference

During Advent we have been ‘Walking the Way’…..in a variety of ways!

For our service on New Years Eve, Phil invited a group known as ‘The Park Ramblers’ to plan and lead the service.

This what they did!

There were four extra flower arrangements

All in shoes!!!

First some background about the Park Ramblers which Marilyn Leach shared with us.

Marilyn walked around the Park regularly before shopping, one day she met Maralyn Tomlinson and invited her to join her, then others were also invited and we now have 17 people who walk when they can. They are not all members of St David’s, some worship in other churches. We have one thing in common, keeping active and enjoying the surroundings of Ynysyngharad Park. We sometimes have the pleasure of Phil’s company……usually when he wants us to do something or there is a meal involved.

Some are not as quick as others so we seem to split into three groups – the speed walkers, who usuall y walk two laps – the steady walkers vary between 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 and the slower walkers still do one lap. we are encouraged to walk and NOT talk……..not many actually do! BUT we do observe our surroundings, we look out for the Heron, we watch the ducks battling against the flow of water while trying to go upstream…. and enjoy the beauty of the park!

as we walk nearly every Monday and in ALL weather we see the changes of the colours.

We meet for coffee in the Cafe Royale following our walk for coffee and a chat and, for a fee of 10p we have the privilege of answering a quiz question. The money we raise is given to Pontypridd Street Pastors who do such a fantastic job on the weekends looking after people who are in need of help!

Once a year in April we catch the bus to Cardiff Bay and walk across the Bay Barrage and have a meal in the restaurant there before walking back.

AND we celebrate Christmas with a meal at Cafe Royale………where else would we go they look after us so well!

SO our service on December 31st took all these things into consideration…..

Call to Worship

The year has thinned, the light seems weaker, the year is tired and the season is running out,

Yet here we are in the place of life for this place believes in things beyond the time and season.

We might live in the echo of the stable and hold onto faith un the year’s last days,

But we perform acts of renewal in baptism and hope.

So, let us gather in what the world sees as the cusp of the year

And celebrate who we are, and who we are yet to be.

Come let us be together, journey together and worship together in the love of God as we sing together our first hymn of praise-

Walk in the Light- Other hymns chosen were:

One more step along the world I go. We are marching in the light of Go. As we go now from this moment

We had a dramatised reading of the Road to Emmaus

Prayer

Eternal God, give us the courage to set off on our journeys. May we open our eyes to new experiences, may we open our ears to hear you speaking to us and may we open our hearts to your love.

Creator God, you are the source of all life and motivation. May we experience the freedom to wander, the freedom to hope and the freedom to love as we journey.

God of Justice, give us the power to glorify you in the way we journey. May we hold lovingly in our thoughts those who suffer from tyranny, subjection, cruelty and injustice and work every day towards the easing of their suffering.

Healing God, sometimes our hearts are heavy as we plod along. We pray for those who are in pain, suffering from illness either physical or mental or are mourning. We ask that you are with them, and us, in their time of need.

Encouraging God, we thank you for ideas that bring people together, that allow them to journey together like the Monday ramblers/park walkers. Give others courage and strength to start off on similar journeys so they too can meet others on the way.

Travelling God, guide our footsteps and lead us on life’s journey. Be with us wherever we may go, whether we sprint, run, speed walk, take it at a leisurely pace or drag our feet share our journey as we continue on the way, journeying as Jesus did, as we share together the pattern of prayer that Jesus taught us; saying Our Father….

We were served with tea or coffee and had biscuits and a 10 question quiz!

Before finishing everyone was given a pair of footprints and invited to write on them a prayer and / or their wish for 2018

End Reflection

We have eaten and drank together, and opened ourselves to each other.

We have expressed our faith and our thanks.

We have looked back over the year and have looked and created hopes for the year to come.

As we drank in the warmth of the tea and the Coffee, we gave you thanks for the warmth of your love.

As we ate and dunked biscuits in our cups, we gave thanks for our baptism and welcome into your church.

May the food and companionship we shared nourish our bodies, hearts and minds and may our spirits be refreshed.

Let us take the banquet into the world and into the new year and never give up until people are fed.

Your mugs might be empty, your biscuits may be eaten, but God’s banquet continues as we go from this place.